Tesla’s Autopilot feature is supposed to make driving on the road easier and smoother and can come in handy when you have to drive long distances. Although there is plenty of hype surrounding this self-driving feature, it’s actually rated at Level 2 when it comes to automation, according to international standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (via Car & Driver). This classification means the technology can help — but not completely replace — drivers.
To begin with, Autopilot has to be switched on as it is not the default mode. Once it’s on, eight external cameras give 360-degree visibility for up to around 820 feet (via Tesla). Drivers can also set their cars to match the speed of surrounding traffic with the Traffic-Aware Cruise Control feature. Additionally, they don’t have to steer the wheel as there is Autosteer to stop them from veering off. Because vehicles equipped with this feature are not fully automated, Tesla says drivers still have to pay attention to the road and that their hands should be on the steering wheel at all times.